A blind man climbing Mount Everest or a man with a sixth-grade reading level graduating college may seem impossible, but with persistence people can overcome.

That is the message two motivational speakers will bring to Jacksonville Friday at a fundraiser for the Parent Help Center.

Glenn Ellison, founder of the center, said Erik Weihenmayer and Christian Moore will speak at the 2014 “Night of Overcomers” banquet. Ellison also is a speaker.

Weihenmayer climbed Mount Everest despite losing his sight when he was 13. Moore grew up in a run-down Washington neighborhood and has a reading level on par with a sixth-grader. He graduated college before sharing his personal experience and becoming a motivational speaker.

The event, starting at 5 p.m., will be at the Fire Fighter’s Hall, 618 Stockton St. While Ellison said the event has sold out, he would work on making additional arrangements.

The Parent Help Center was founded 14 years ago as a way to improve difficult children’s behavior. Ellison said he demands parental involvement in the program.

He said Weihenmayer and Moore will drive home that there are no excuses.

“If your daddy was a drunk or your mama was a prostitute, you can still do it,” he said. “... You can still overcome.”

A video will be produced Friday night that will be shown in Duval County schools, Ellison said. He hopes the video will reach as many children and leave an impact on them for years to come.

He said he is working to get the video shown in other school districts.

“Everything we do Friday night will make the Duval County school system a better place,” he said.